Mercer Island community urges elected leaders to support I-90 amendment | My Turn

March 29, 2017 11:40 am
A rendering of light rail on the Interstate 90 floating bridge between Seattle and Mercer Island. Image courtesy of Sound Transit
A rendering of light rail on the Interstate 90 floating bridge between Seattle and Mercer Island. Image courtesy of Sound Transit

We continue to work locally to raise the awareness of the issues surrounding Interstate 90 and are strongly in favor of a new budget proviso that has been introduced to the Senate Transportation Committee this past week.

Time is of the essence.

In two months, the center lane will close unless our Legislature adopts this budget proviso. The proviso will delay the center lane closure to give our leaders flexibility in addressing construction and lane reconfiguration issues.

We refer the public to the proposed amendment, “I-90/Two Way Transit and HOV Improvements Project,” on page 33, line five to Senate Bill 5096-2017-18.

The amendment reads:

“The Legislature recognizes that the city of Mercer Island has unique access issues that require the use of Interstate 90 to access the Island and that this access may be impeded by the I-90/two way transit and HOV improvements project. Now and hereafter, the department must implement the 2007 Revised Access Plan for Mercer Island on I-90 from I-5 to I-405, and continue to work with the city of Mercer Island to ensure such implementation complies with federal law. Before the department transfers or leases any rights to a regional transit agency for the I-90 center lane corridors from I-5 to I-405, the department shall report the following findings to the Legislature for approval:

a) The results of a full and comprehensive appraisal by a three-member panel of independent appraisers of the fair market value of the I-90 center lane corridor from I-5 to I-405, using all generally-accepted valuation procedures;

b) An analysis of the need to close the I-90 center lane corridor from I-5 to I-405 for six or more years prior to light rail operation;

c) A new, full and comprehensive environmental impact statement that shall include a review of all changes in the configuration and proposed operation of the I-90 center land corridor, and a review of all potential alternative transportation technologies, including new bus rapid transit technologies; and

d) An independent, full and comprehensive review of the safety of the I-90/ two way transit and HOV improvements project on the I-90 center lane corridor from I-5 to I-405.”

This amendment needs the collaborative and strong support of the Mercer Island City Council and our 41st Legislative team. Rep. Judy Clibborn has the added responsibility of being chair of the House Transportation Committee and as such, should specifically ask for full support of this proposed amendment to SB 5096.

The amendment allows a very thoughtful approach to the decisions impacting the I-90 center lane corridor, and provides current information that we feel is critical to the parties making decisions that will impact our region for the next 50-100 years.

There is an example of a bridge that converted three 12-inch wide lanes into to four 11-inch lanes. The Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River is now one of 15 major interstate bridges in the country labeled by the federal government as “functionally obsolete” for failure to meet safety or traffic flow standards. Big trucks will have less than a yard of space between them and minor mishaps will back traffic up for miles. Indications are that the re-configuration will turn I-90 into the 16th “functionally obsolete” bridge.

With the growth our region is experiencing, we feel it is responsible to convert the outer roadways to four lanes of traffic in compliance with R8-A, while we have a relief measure available by keeping the center I-90 lanes open. This was the Washington State Department of Transportation’s original R8A plan when it was presented to the public.

It’s prudent to study the impact of this change on the region before the center lanes are closed. As Sound Transit did not disclose this $225 million increase to voters or the City Council, the planned June 1 closure of I-90’s center lanes must be delayed until there is a full safety report and a full review of alternatives.

The “I-90/Two Way Transit and HOV Improvements Project” on page 33 of the SB 5096 amendment needs the support of the Mercer Island City Council and from Clibborn. Save I-90, the people of Mercer Island and the communities of the Eastside are asking for your support.

Jim Lovsted is a resident of Mercer Island.